Textile apparatus



y 1968 w. PARKER ETAL 3,381,462

TEXTILE APPARATUS Filed April '7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

FIG. 2. 25 73 1: F/G.3. I

y 1968 w. PARKER ETAL 3,381,462

TEXT ILE APPARATUS Filed April 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet United States Patent 3,381,462 TEXTILE APPARATUS Walter Parker, Wilmslow, and Harold W. Lee, Poynton, England, assignors to Ernest Scragg & Sons (Holdings) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A yarn handling apparatus which comprises an elongated conduit having intermediate its inlet end and its outlet end a plurality of yarn entry portions spaced apart in longitudinal direction. A blower is connected to the inlet end of the conduit and blows the gaseous fluid in the direction towards the outlet end. Provided within the conduit are means for producing a negative pressure effect "at each of the yarn entry portions in response to blowing of the gaseous fluid through the conduit so that, when a yarn end is inserted into one of the yarn entry portions, the yarn end is drawn into the conduit and entrained by the gaseous fluid and conveyed thereby towards the outlet end of the conduit.

This invention relates to yarn handling apparatus for handling yarn ends during, for example, dotfing operations on a yarn processing apparatus, and to yarn processing apparatus incorporating such handling apparatus.

According to the invention a conduit having a plurality of yarn end entry portions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the conduit is, at one end, connected to the discharge side of an air impeller adapted to impel air through the conduit from the one end to the other; and the impeller, conduit, and yarn end entry portions are adapted, arranged, or constructed so that, when air is so impelled through the conduit, a depression is created at each yarn end entry portion such that a yarn end inserted in a yarn end entry portion is drawn into the conduit and entrained by the air impelled through the conduit.

At least one yarn end entry portion may be an integral part of the wall of the conduit. The yarn end entry portion may have an aperture, the leading edge of which, considered in the direction of air flow, curves inwardly towards the axis of the conduit and the trailing edge of which curves outwardly away from the axis of the conduit.

At least one yarn end entry portion may comprise a side conduit which extends into the interior of the main conduit. The side conduit may be cylindrical or frustoconical. It may be perpendicular or inclined to the axis of the main conduit in the direction of air flow through the main conduit. The edge of the inner aperture of the side conduit may be in a plane parallel to the direction of air flow through the main conduit; or, it may be inclined to the said direction with its trailing edge closer to the exterior aperture of the side conduit.

The apparatus may have yarn deflector means adapted to deflect yarn ends entrained from yarn entry portions upstream from the deflector means so as to prevent snaring of yarn ends within the main conduit. Each deflector means may be close to an associated entry portion, and may comprise a member having a curved surface inclined to the wall of the conduit with its leading edge against the latter wall, upstream of the associated entry portion.

At least one side conduit may be so shaped as to deflect yarn ends entrained from yarn side passage portions upstream from the side conduit so as to prevent the snaring of such yarn ends on the side conduit.

At the location of at least one yarn end entry portion the main conduit may have a reduced cross-sectional area.

3,381,462 Patented May 7, 1968 The main conduit may taper over at least part of its length in the direction towards the impeller.

The apparatus may have a yarn trap which is connected to the main conduit at the end remote from the impeller. The yarn trap may be an expansion chamber. The air outlet from the expansion chamber may be at the top of the chamber.

Preferably the impeller is a high volume, low pressure type, e.g., an axial flow impeller.

The invention also extends to a yarn processing apparatus having a row of spaced apart yarn processing stations, and yarn handling apparatus as herein described, the conduit of the latter apparatus extending in the row-wise direction of the processing stations and the yarn and entry portions of the conduit being adapted to receive travelling yarn ends so that any such yarn end can be inserted in a yarn end entry portion to be conveyed away from its individual processing station, for example, dur' ing dofiing operations.

The invention also extends to a conduit which is adapted to be fitted at one end to an air impeller and at the other end to a yarn trap and which with the impeller and yarn trap forms yarn handling apparatus, as previously described.

The invention also extends to a yarn trap which is adapted to be fitted to one end of a conduit whose other end is adapted to be fitted to an air impeller and which, with the conduit and the air impeller forms a yarn hanling apparatus as previously described.

The invention further extends to an air impeller which is adapted to be fitted to one end of a conduit, and which, with the conduit, forms a yarn handling apparatus as previously described.

The invention further extends to a conduit adapted to be fixed in relation to a row of yarn processing stations, so as to form a yarn handling apparatus as previously described.

The invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a false twist crimping machine,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the upper part of the machine of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 schematically shows a yarn handling apparatus, and

FIGURES 4 to 11 schematically show axial sections through various constructions of conduit capable of being employed in the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

A textile machine has a row of yarn processing stations (not shown) at which, in operation, yarn, travelling between yarn supply packages and yarn wind-up devices, is processed (as by being, for example, twisted, false twist crimped or heated) and a yarn handling apparatus (FIG. 1).

A yarn false twist crimping machine (FIG. 1) has a plurality of yarn processing apparatus 11 and a yarn handling apparatus 13.

Each processing apparatus 11 comprises a yarn false twist device 15, a yarn contact heater 17, yarn forwarding means comprising first nip-forming rolls 19 and second nip-forming rolls 21, a package rotating roller 23 adapted to rotate a package 25 being formed at a constant peripheral speed, and a yarn engaging finger 27 reciprocable axially so as to distribute yarn axially along the package 25.

Yarn Y to be processed by an apparatus 11 is withdrawn, by the nip rolls 19, from a yarn supply S and passes, in contact with the heater 17 and engagement with the false twist device 15. The nip rolls 19 serve as a twist stopper for twist running back from the false twist device 15.

False twist crimped yarn issuing from the false twist device 15 passes from the nip rolls 21 to the yarn distributing finger 27 and the package 25.

The package rotating rolls 23 are mounted on a common rotary shaft 23; and the yarn distributing fingers 27 are fixed to an axially reciproca-ble shaft 27.

The handling apparatus 13 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 3 and comprises an air impeller 29, a conduit 31 having yarn end entry portions 33, and a yarn trap 35. The conduit 31 extends in the row-wise direction of the processing stations and preferably has as many yarn end entry portions 33 as there are processing stations. The conduit 31 is connected, at one end to the air impeller 29, which is adapted to impel air through the conduit 31 from one end to the other, and at the other end to the yarn trap 35.

The impeller 29, conduits 31, and entry portions 33 are adapted, arranged or constructed so as when air is flowing through the conduit 31 a depression is created at each side passage portion 33 such that, when a yarn end Y is inserted in the passage of any of the entry portions 33, the yarn end is drawn into the conduit 31 and entrained by the air flowing through the conduit.

The creation of the necessary depression may be achieved in a variety of different ways. At least one yarn end entry portion 33 may be a cranked conduit 37 (FIG. fitted to the main conduit 31 with one limb 21 parallel to the axis of the conduit 31 and the other limb 41 projecting through an aperture in the wall of the main conduit. It may be a straight cylindrical conduit 43 (FIG. 7) or a frusto-conical conduit 45 (FIG. 8). The axis of the conduit 43 or 45 may (FIG. 7) be perpendicular to the axis of the main conduit 31, or (FIG. 8) it may be inclined to the latter axis. The depression may be achieved by slotting the wall of the conduit 31 and turning the leading and trailing edges 47 and 49 respectively of the resulting aperture respectively into and outwards from the conduit 31 (FIG. 6).

The conduit 31 may have and, where the side passage portions are conduits extending into the main conduit, preferably has yarn deflector means adapted to deflect yarn ends entrained from yarn side passage portions upstream from the deflector means so as to prevent the snaring of such yarn ends within the main conduit 31.

The deflector means may comprise a plurality of deflector devices, e.g., 51 (FIGS. 5, 7 and 8) respectively mounted in the main conduit upstream from at least all but the first of the yarn end entry portions, considered in the direction of air flow through the conduit 31. The individual deflector means may be mounted on removable sections such as 53 (FIG. 7 or 8) of material conforming to the contour of the conduit 13 and adapted to be fitted in apertures 55 in the latter conduit.

At least one yarn end entry portion may (FIG. 4), however, be in the form of a side conduit 57 which is itself so shaped, as at 59, as to deflect yarn ends entrained from upstream yarn end entry portions as previously described.

Whereas in FIGS. 1 to 8 the main conduit 31 is shown as being straight cylindrical, the conduit 31 may have a venturi section at at least one yarn end entry portion (FIGS. 9, and 11) of the conduit. The conduit 31 may be of a thermoplastic or thermosetting resinous or other deformable material, and the venturi section may be formed by compressing the material by a constricting band 61 (FIG. 11) integral with the yarn end entry portion 33. Conveniently the conduit 31 may be fixed to a textile machine at the location of such a band.

As indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3 the conduit 31 may taper in cross-sectional area over at least part 31' of its length, towards the impeller 29.

The impeller 29 is preferably of the axial flow type.

The yarn trap may be in the form of an expansion chamber wherein the velocity of air discharged from the conduit 31 is reduced. Air may be expelled from the expansion chamber through a grill at the top 35' of the chamber, and the upward air velocity in the expansion chamber is then such that yarn ends carried into the expansion chamber by the air flow through the conduit can fall to the bottom of the chamber.

When a package is being dotted, the broken end of yarn coming from the nip rolls 21 is led (by hand or otherwise) to the vicinity of yarn end entry portions 33 of the conduit 31. The depression created at the latter portions by air flowing through the conduit 31 tends to draw the yarn end into the conduit where it is entrained by the flowing air and accumulates in the yarn trap 29. The position of the conduit 31 in relation to the package rotating rolls 23 is such that when a fresh bobbin is being driven by a package rotating roll, yarn passing to the conduit 31 can be broken off and the yarn coming from the nip rolls 21 can be led rapidly in contact with the yarn distributing finger 27 to the fresh bobbin.

What we claim is:

1. A yarn handling apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongate conduit having an inlet end, an outlet end and a plurality of yarn end entry portions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the conduit intermediate said ends; a blower connected to said inlet end and adapted to blow gaseous fluid through the conduit from the inlet end to the outlet end thereof; and means for producing a negative pressure effect at each yarn end entry portion in response to blowing of said gaseous fluid through said conduit so that a yarn end inserted into any of said yarn end entry portions is drawn into the conduit and entrained by said gaseous fiuid to be conveyed towards said outlet end.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which at least one yarn end entry portion is an integral part of the wall of the conduit.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, in which said one yarn end entry portion has an aperture provided with a leading and a trailing edge which respectively lead and trail in the direction of fluid flow, said leading edge curving inwardly towards the axis of the conduit and the trailing edge curving outwardly away from the axis of the conduit.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said conduit is a main conduit and in which at least one yarn end entry portion comprises a side conduit which extends into the interior of the main conduit.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which said side conduit is cylindrical.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which said side conduit is frusto-conical.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which the axis of said side conduit is perpendicular to the axis of the main conduit in the direction of fluid flow through the main conduit.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which the axis of the side conduit is inclined to the axis of the main conduit in the direction of fluid flow through the main conduit.

9. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which the inner end of the side conduit comprises a rim located in a plane parallel to the direction of fluid flow through the main conduit.

10. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which the inner end of the side conduit comprises a rim located in a plane inclined to the direction of air flow through the main conduit.

11. An apparatus according to claim 4; and further comprising yarn end deflector means located within the main conduit and adapted to deflect a yarn end entrained at an entry portion upstream of the deflector means, so as to prevent snaring of the yarn end at yarn end entry portions.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, in which the deflector means comprises a plurality of deflector portions each of which is disposed upstream of one of said yarn end entry portions and downstream of the next preceding entry portion.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, in which each deflector portion comprises a shield member having a curved surface inclined to the wall of the main conduit, said shield member being fixed to the main conduit proximal to its leading edge.

14. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which said one side conduit is configurated for deflecting yarn ends entrained at yarn side passage portions upstream of said side conduit so as to prevent the snaring of such yarn ends on the side conduit.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conduit is provided with a wall having an inner surface, said inner surface defining in the region of at least one yarn end entry portion a venturi.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, in which the main conduit is of a deformable material, and further comprising a band which surrounds and radially constricts the conduit in the region of said at least one entry portion to thereby provide said venturi.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, in which one of said yarn end entry portions projects from said band inwardly into an aperture through the wall of said conduit.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, in which said yarn entry portion projecting through the wall of said conduit projects inwardly into said conduit.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, in which said yarn entry portion projecting into said conduit is configurated for deflecting yarn entrained at any upstream yarn end entry portion away from said entry portion in response to contact with the latter.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1; and further comprising a yarn trap connected to said conduit at said downstream end thereof.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, in which the yarn trap comprises a gas expansion chamber.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, in which said expansion chamber comprises a gas outlet provided at the top of the chamber.

23. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said blower is of the high volume, low pressure type.

24. A yarn processing machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of individual yarn processing apparatus arranged in predetermined direction and in, sideby-side relationship; and yarn handling: apparatus including an elongate conduit extending in said predetermined direction and having an inlet end, an outlet end and a plurality of yarn end entry portions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the conduit intermediate said ends; a blower connected to said inlet end and adapted to blow gaseous fluid through the conduit from the inlet end to the outlet end thereof; and means for producing a negative pressure effect at each yarn end entry portion in response to blowing of said gaseous fluid through said conduit so that a yarn end inserted in any of said yarn end entry portions is drawn into the conduit and entrained by said gaseous fluid to be conveyed towards said outlet end.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, in which said blower is an axial flow blower.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,046,603 12/ 1912 Kenney 15-409 XR 2,055,577 9/1936 Huff 15-409 XR 2,923,959 2/1960 Huber 15-409 XR 3,066,471 12/1962 Scragg 57-345 FOREIGN PATENTS 968,929 4/ 1958 Germany.

879,249 10/1961 Great Britain.

350,537 4/ 1905 France.

939,836 5/1948 France. 1,081,011 6/1954 France.

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

WERNER H. SCI-IROEDER, Assistant. Examiner. 

